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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Top Ten (Eleven) Books Thus Far in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
I'm back! It's been like two months since I participated in TTT, because of busy and lack of motivation and other things. Lazy almost won out, but this is an important post for me to do, so that I can help narrow things down and actually do a top books of 2013 post at the end of the year (since I wimped out last year).

Usually I link up my lists to GR, but since this is about MY top reads, I'm linking to my reviews, and you can hop to GR from there if you want.

Also, I'm cheating all over the place, because I narrowed my 150 books so far this year to 14 and I'm just going to keep them all. What can I say? I'm a book hoarder. So I'll start with the books published in 2013, and then move to the backlist titles that blew my mind so far this year.

Siege and Storm (The Grisha #2) - Leigh Bardugo 
One word: Sturm-FREAKING-hond.

Shadow on the Crown (Emma of Normandy #1) - Patricia Bracewell 
The only adult title to make the list. This is why I'm reading so much YA these days, because it's rare that get the same feels from adult. Bracewell managed that though, despite all the crazy historical names.

Earth Girl (Earth Girl #1) - Janet Edwards  
Science fiction made of win, basically. Strong heroine. Sweet love interest who thinks it's super hot his girlfriend could totally kick his ass. Basically, amazing all around.

Things I Can't Forget (Hundred Oaks #3) - Miranda Kenneally
Seriously, Miranda Kenneally gives me feels like crazy, and, though I know a lot of people didn't like TICF as much, it's my favorite of her books so far. Definitely the least fluffy of them, but OMG the feels.

Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) - Robin LaFevers
 Much as I loved Grave Mercy, LaFevers amped everything up in Dark Triumph. Let's give a hurrah for unconventional love interests, shall we?

The Trouble with Flirting - Claire LaZebnik
Jane Austen's Mansfield Park made as awesome as it should have been, only in a young adult setting with theater. HECK YES!

Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell
Nerds bonding over comics? Pop culture references? High school being the worst? Heartbreak? Yes, yes, yes.

Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell
 What's that you say? I'm obsessed with Rainbow Rowell's books? You might be right. Her writing makes me happy.

The Reece Malcolm List - Amy Spalding
This book is the epitome of cuteness, with authentic high school relationships, musical theater, and a focus on family dynamics. LOVE.

Golden Boy - Abigail Tarttelin 
Multiple points of view done brilliantly in this novel about an intersex person. Simply beautiful and heartbreaking.

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) - Kasie West
Pivot Point has so many things I love, like parallel universes and adorable romance and a heroine who can make tough choices.

BONUS!
Second Helpings (Jessica Darling #2) - Megan McCafferty 
Sloppy Firsts was awesome too, but Second Helpings is where it's at. MARCUS FLUTIE, y'all!

Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) - Brandon Sanderson
Best book I've read this year, hands down.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Catherynne M. Valente
 This book was as magical as promised. It's sort of like the Persephone myth meets The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe meets Alice in Wonderland, and yet somehow still makes sense.

How about you guys? Have you read any of these? Want to? What wonderfulness have you read this year?
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62 comments:

  1. AshleyJune 25, 2013 at 12:05 AM

    I've only read a handful of these! I clearly need to stalk you better for reads! Because my TBR isn't out of control at all.

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 8:36 AM

      Stalk away (in a completely non-Edward sort of way)!

      Delete
  2. Belle of the LiteratiJune 25, 2013 at 12:12 AM

    LOVED Pivot Point! It was totally unexpected to me how much I enjoyed it! Trevor just made me wanna die with happiness and the end?! Oh the angst! And I reeeeally have to read The Grave Mercy series...this one pops up a lot too, I need to get on it.

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 8:41 AM

      Yes! That's how I felt about Pivot Point too. I'm always a bit wary of paranormal stuff, but that one was AMAZING.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousJune 25, 2013 at 12:13 AM

    I want to read The Reese Malcolm List soon, and Fangirl also looks really good! :) My TTT list: http://aliceinreaderland.com/2013/06/24/top13/

    Alice @ Alice in Readerland

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  4. UnknownJune 25, 2013 at 12:23 AM

    This is a really great list! :)

    I was quite excited to see a few of your choices as they're books I've yet to read on my TBR list! I have Earth Girl gathering dust on one of my shelves somewhere because I was a little burned out on the science fiction and dystopian genres, but your comments made me want to break it out immediately. Same goes for Eleanor & Park, The Reece Malcolm List and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, all of which I own but have yet to read. Excuse me while I bump them to the top of my TBR list! :)

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 8:48 AM

      YAY! I was pretty proud of my list, because some of these books really didn't get much, if any, hype around the blogosphere and they DESERVE it. Earth Girl is awesome sauce. Also, yeah, all of these. You should totally bump them up. I mean, I loved The Art of Wishing and so did you, so clearly we have compatible tastes, right?

      Delete
  5. JaspritJune 25, 2013 at 12:24 AM

    This is a great list Christina, I absolutely loved Siege and Storm too, especially because of Sturmhond. I have been meaning to read Pivot Point for ages now, so I'm glad it made it to your list. And I'd never heard of The Trouble with Flirting before, but it definitely sounds like a me book!

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 8:51 AM

      Sturmhond was like the center of my love. The plot was great and the writing, but STURMHOND! Yay! Glad you'll check out something new too!

      Delete
  6. MorganJune 25, 2013 at 12:44 AM

    Looooved Siege and Storm and I'm really looking forward to Fangirl! Very intrigued by Earth Girl too. I'm also really glad to see Shadow on the Crown on your list! I went to Patricia Bracewell's launch party and she was great. Such a fantastic book, I finally read it last week. Compelling and readable despite the crazy names like you said. Can't wait for book 2 :)

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 8:56 AM

      Shadow on the Crown was AWESOME! I wish we had more launch parties in my area. What I wouldn't give to live in NYC or California for ALL THE AUTHORS. Sigh.

      Delete
  7. UnknownJune 25, 2013 at 12:53 AM

    So many awesome books on this list! Siege and Storm, Dark Triumph and Eleanor & Park are on my list, too. I'm very excited for Fangirl! Pivot Point was pretty good too. Happy reading!

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 8:59 AM

      Ah, I know everyone didn't love Pivot Point, but my feels were serious business.

      Delete
  8. KatieJune 25, 2013 at 1:07 AM

    I have, sadly, only read one of these books, SIEGE & STORM. But I'm determined to read THE TROUBLE WITH FLIRTING and the Jessica Darling books. MARK MY WORDS! lol

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  9. Neysa KristantiJune 25, 2013 at 2:34 AM

    I'm planning to read Pivot Point soon, so it's nice seeing it here! And Eleanor & Park looks cute and interesting too! *add to TBR*
    Nice pick :D

    Neysa Kristanti @ [B.O.O.K.L.I.F.E.]

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 9:04 AM

      Pivot Point reads a bit more like a contemp than a paranormal, and it gave me all the feels! YES! Everyone should read Rainbow Rowell.

      Delete
  10. DebbyJune 25, 2013 at 3:01 AM

    PIVOT POINT EEEEEEEP *dances excitedly* Hahaha, I love that book so much. I'm also SO happy to hear you say that about Mistborn, because I've been meaning to read it for a while but I need some extra prodding. I'm really excited to read Fangirl, it just sounds AWESOME. And of course Siege and Storm, I need to get around to that. I had never heard of Earth Girl before!! But it sounds awesome!!! I think it's going on my TBR list.

    Awesome list!! :)

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 9:07 AM

      YAY! Another commenter said it was "pretty good" and I was all sadface. Though I know everyone doesn't get the feels from the same things.

      ALSO READ MISTBORN RIGHT NOW I WILL ALSO TWEET THIS BC YOU MUST.

      YES. Earth Girl! Read it!

      Delete
  11. Lynn K.June 25, 2013 at 6:38 AM

    STURMHOND. I want to know him!!! Why won't my postman bring me my book?!

    Looking forward to reading Mistborn and Jessica Darling books. Why must Fangirl come out in September?! A whole lot of my wishlist books are coming out August-Sept, wallet is going to be slim.. T.T

    I bought The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making after I read your review earlier this year! I'm still in the middle of reading it, savoring each chapter.

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 9:23 AM

      What? Is your postman withholding Sturmhond? Pretty sure that's a criminal offense.

      Ooh, yeah, October's a big month too. SO MANY BOOKS. My tbr bookshelf is exploding.

      Yay! I totally get reading Fairyland slowly. Savoring that book makes sense. Not one a slow pace would hurt, I don't think!

      Delete
  12. Kimberly @ Midnight Book GirlJune 25, 2013 at 6:55 AM

    I know there were people that issues with Things I Can't Forget but I agree so many feels! And of course I agree with The Trouble With Flirting because you know I love cute things. I requested Eleanor & Park from the library and it should be coming in in July. :) And Pivot Point has been staring me down for weeks so hopefully I'll get to it this summer!

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 9:25 AM

      YES YES YES. E&P is a book I remember as cute, but it's largely depressing actually, so watch out for that. Also, I think you would love Pivot Point!

      Delete
  13. UnknownJune 25, 2013 at 7:39 AM

    Great list. I actually read and absolutely adored Catching Jordan, but then I heard so many mixed reviews about Stealing Parker that I still haven't continued the series. Maybe I'll read this one though. Thanks for sharing :)

    -Mari @ The Sirenic Codex

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 9:26 AM

      Stealing Parker's still definitely worth reading, and I know it's some people's favorite. It's my least fave of the series, but still totally worth it for the adorable LI; he's my favorite of the Miranda boys.

      Delete
  14. BrandyJune 25, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    I can not wait to read Fangirl. All of the people talking about reading it now are just making me want to weep. And throw things.

    The Trouble with Flirting almost made my list. I seriously considered it.

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 9:28 AM

      Hahaha, sorry about that. I reserve the right to read my books early if I want to.

      YAY!

      Delete
    2. BrandyJune 26, 2013 at 10:14 PM

      Oh totally. I would read it early too if I could but I got rejected on Edelweiss AND Netgalley. It is the first time a rejection has made me want to throw things. (You don't make me want to throw things. It's the situation.)

      Delete
  15. Sharon (A Book Barbie)June 25, 2013 at 8:57 AM

    How in the world haven't I heard of Shadow on the Crown before? I need this book in my life!

    And HOORAY for the Marcus Flutie love. ♥

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 9:29 AM

      You do! If you're a historical fiction love, oh YES you do.

      Delete
  16. AnonymousJune 25, 2013 at 8:59 AM

    Loved loved loved Pivot Point! It was so great and I felt like it wasn't written to try and dumb down the reader. It was clever and amazing!


    My TTT List

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  17. JenniJune 25, 2013 at 9:14 AM

    Gah! I really need to get around to reading the Sloppy books, I bought the first one forever ago. So awesome to see Golden Boy on this list! Woohoo! And yes Miranda knows how to emit the feels, love that woman!

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 9:36 AM

      You did! How dare you not have read everything already. You're the worst.

      Delete
  18. UnknownJune 25, 2013 at 10:35 AM

    I can't wait to read Fangirl! All of these are great picks! I'm jealous that you got to read Siege and Storm already :) I'll be picking that one shortly.

    My TTT: http://www.bookythoughtsandme.com/top-ten-books-ive-read-so-far-in-2013/

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  19. Renae @ Respiring ThoughtsJune 25, 2013 at 10:48 AM

    Shadow on the Crown!!! Reece Malcolm!!! Excellent choices here. Obviously, Rainbow Rowell in all her glory appeared on this list (you should read Attachments, btw, so I can find out how she does adult fic). Also: Mistborn, which I need to read something in the very near future. Oh yeah, and Earth Girl...*looks guiltily at shelf*

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 11:19 AM

      Lol. Well, me loving Attachments won't tell you anything will it? But I will AT SOME POINT. But I am skeered. MIRSBORN! Earth Girl. DO ITTTTT.

      Delete
  20. AngieJune 25, 2013 at 10:51 AM

    A few of these are on my to-read, but I think I need to check out Earth Girl, too. I love that title and the cover!

    I thought The Reece Malcolm List was super adorable! I got all teary eyed at the end!

    Here's Mine @ Pinkindle Reads & Reviews

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  21. Sash and EmJune 25, 2013 at 10:57 AM

    Jessica Darling is the best!

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  22. Becky LeJeuneJune 25, 2013 at 11:07 AM

    Oh, I still need to read SHADOW ON THE CROWN, PIVOT POINT, and MISTBORN! I have all three in my TBR (it's massive - the TBR).

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 11:33 AM

      Mine too. There are 3700 books on my GR to-read shelf. And about fifty in my piles.

      Delete
  23. Natalie @Natflix&BooksJune 25, 2013 at 11:34 AM

    Marcus Flutie indeed. I absolutely love that whole series (but especially the first 2) and have re-read them a billion time.
    Pivot Point and Reece Malcolm made my list, too. I really enjoyed both of them. I still need to read Earth Girl and The Trouble with Flirting. Both are on my TBR. Great list!
    Natflix&Books' TTT

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    1. ChristinaJune 25, 2013 at 1:35 PM

      I actually only read the first two and refuse to read anymore, because I suspect there's going to be a lot of on again/off again nonsense with them, and I will not be able to handle it. I really can't ship couples like that, so I will let them remain perfect in my head.

      Delete
  24. HollieJune 25, 2013 at 12:25 PM

    I can't wait to read Siege and Storm and Pivot Point. And I need to make time for Eleanor & Park, it keeps looking at me when I walk past my bookcase so I think it's high time I read it!

    My Top Ten

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  25. AudraJune 25, 2013 at 12:41 PM

    Glad to see Bracewell there -- her book is on my TBR. I got to meet her at the Historical Novel Society conference I was just at, and she's just awesome!

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  26. Shelver506June 25, 2013 at 12:51 PM

    Ah, Earth Girl. *pets screen* Someday...

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  27. UnknownJune 25, 2013 at 1:16 PM

    Hey! Shadow on the Crown is on your list too, how awesome. :) Ever since your Mistborn review I've been super antsy to read it myself... not a huge fantasy fan but I really want to give that one a shot. So glad you loved Fairyland too, have you read the second one yet? I almost think that one was even better if possible.

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  28. AnonymousJune 25, 2013 at 1:30 PM

    YES to E&P! It's on my TTT too. I haven't read Fangirl yet, but I will soon. I have it from Netgalley, but I'm trying to wait until it's closer to the release date. But seriously, it's hard to resist.

    Oh and I want to read The Trouble with Flirting. I thought Epic Fail was pretty cute, and want to check that one out. Glad to hear you liked it so much.

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  29. AshleyJune 25, 2013 at 1:49 PM

    I can't believe I forgot about the Reece Malcolm List! I was dying to read it and then it completely slipped my mind.

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  30. Christina Reads YAJune 25, 2013 at 2:15 PM

    SOOO many to add to TBR list. Earth Girl, Shadow on the Crown, The Trouble with Flirting... And of course, there's the ones you already convinced me to add before, i.e. Valente's novel, Golden Boy, Mistborn, etc. Why is the TBR SO HUGE...

    Also, funny that some of the books I said you'd convinced me to read are right here on this list.

    YES TO FANGIRL FEELS AND YA FEELS AND SIEGE AND STORM AND DARK TRIUMPH AND ELEANOR AND PARK.

    And psh, you're such a rulebreaker. 14 books for top 10. Psh :P.
    (Thanks for putting more. Moar for me to discover muahaha.)

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  31. AnonymousJune 25, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    gah! i cannot wait to get my grubby little hands on Fangirl. of course, E&P was my fave this year. also, a lot of others here that are on my tbr. I have Things I Can't Forget now and cannot wait to open it up :) ~daphne

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  32. EmsJune 25, 2013 at 3:08 PM

    Siege and Storm & Dark Triumph made my list as well. I LOVED them so hard, even if they destroyed me for awhile.

    I have plans to read Fangirl this summer. It looks really good!

    Great list!

    Ems
    My Top Ten

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  33. MichelineJune 25, 2013 at 5:48 PM

    Uhm hell yeah for Mistborn AND The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland ♥ though I read Mistborn last year it's among my top reads of all time in any case!! I own Grave Mercy & Fangirl and am planning on reading both this year...oh and I'm not even going to start on the Grisha Series...which btw book 1 have been my #1 wishlist item for ever now...as soon as this book buying ban lifts man, it'll be my first buy! Sweet list all around!

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  34. UnknownJune 25, 2013 at 7:16 PM

    Great list!! I haven't read any of these sadly, but a lot of them are on my TBR pail.
    I just got Shadow and Bone and I can't wait to start it!! That whole series looks amazing :D
    old follower
    my TTT
    http://kimberlysnovelnotes.blogspot.com/2013/06/top-ten-tuesday-23_25.html

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  35. AmandaJune 25, 2013 at 8:48 PM

    I need to read basically all the books you list here. I'm most excited to read Siege and Storm (I have my own copy now), Shadow on the Crown, Earth Girl, Fangirl, Mistborn, and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland. Very solid list, Christina! I hope I can get to some of these sooner rather than later!

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  36. LilianJune 26, 2013 at 9:08 AM

    I KNEW I wasn't going crazy as I was scrolling down the list thinking "WAIT...this feels like its been more than ten books."

    You have a bunch of titles I haven't even heard of like Shadow on the Crown and Golden Boy (though I did skim your review on it.) I saw The Trouble with Flirting by Claire LaZebnik on another list earlier today! You really have a thing for books about theater.

    Out of curiosity, have you read the second book in the Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland series?

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  37. Fahima MJune 26, 2013 at 10:45 AM

    Great list! I loved Eleanor & Park too! :D And Fangirl is my nest read :)

    My TTT

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  38. fakestephJune 26, 2013 at 2:20 PM

    YES Second Helpings is my favorite in the whole series! And I LOOOOVE The Trouble With Flirting and Pivot Point. I have the audio of Dark Triumph and Siege and Storm waiting for me on my phone and I just picked up Eleanor and Park from the library. :)

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  39. Kayla BeckJune 26, 2013 at 9:26 PM

    *does the cabbage patch* I'm still super thrilled that you loved Earth Girl!

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  40. Pat BracewellJuly 7, 2013 at 5:49 PM

    What a joy and a delightful surprise to see SHADOW ON THE CROWN on this list, Christina! Thank you!

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Every comment is appreciated and I will almost always respond, because I love conversing about books!